Michael Wagner
This is a commenting text. Analysis and positions are the writer’s.
KARLSTAD. Much new, but it was the old Malmö FF that decided.
1-0 against Degerfors without the least glimpse of Bodö.
But MFF is just two points away from European contention – that’s rudely good.
– I know how it is, with a new coach. It usually results in players running more, Henok Goitom told NWT before the meeting with Malmö FF.
The Degerforsträner is a shrewd analyst but was both right and wrong.
MFF with new coach Gaute Helstrup took an important and unglamorous 1-0 victory, but it was not through a more willing to run or full of pace Malmö FF.
In a co-production by Guillermo Molins, coach on the field, and Helstrup, coach in the stands, Malmö FF presented an eleven that took a step to the left with the Allsvenskan starting debut for left-footed center back Malte Frejd Pålsson, 20, and with Noah Åstrand John, 22, as left back.
After a game-wise even first quarter, MFF took over possession more and more, very often from their left wing, but without completely dominating, creating many goal chances or keeping a slightly higher pace in 22-23 degrees in the idyllic Stora Valla.
It made it quite easy for a well-organized Henok Goitom-Degerfors to defend against an MFF who lined up in attack as 3-4-3 with Otto Rosengren as a deep-sinking regista and advanced full-backs.
It was an MFF establishment which so far did not contain any traces of Bodö/Glimt. Risk-free for those who may be allergic to the North Norwegian version of successful football. Not the slightest glimpse.
Fixed situation again
Oscar Sjöstrand had a free position, nicely played by Åstrand John after winning the ball, a change of pace and a deep left-foot caress of the full back. But the finish was weak by Sjöstrand and Degen goalkeeper Matvei Igonen saved.
Degerfors, which was stable and stood up in occasional counterattacks, should have received a penalty without the need for a VAR review when Andrej Duric clearly covered a shot at goal from Ludvig Fritzon with his hand. Judge team Erik Mattsson proposed.
Malmö FF has a new coach, new chairman, new CEO and new sporting director – but goals are scored the same old way in 2026.
When the game doesn’t flow, you can always solve it with fixed situations.
MFF was the Allsvenskan team that scored the most goals, 8, from set pieces before kick-off at Stora Valla.
So far the Skåne’s own version of Erling Braut Haaland had been invisible, but when Otto Rosengren hit a fine corner in the 52nd minute and Kenan Buzuladzic threw forward the long assist leg, Erik Botheim in best-friend fashion knocked in 1-0 from close range and his eighth Allsvenskan goal.
MFF’s ninth after fixed situation. That was enough for this Saturday.
When Malmö despite a large advantage in ball possession and some half chances did not close the match so most of the champions lived a little dangerously during the final minutes when Degerfors got a mini forcing, with emphasis on minimal.
Last autumn, Dijan Vukojevic scored five goals in six games for Bruket. This year the striker, who came on in the 70th minute, has a clean sheet in the goal column and Marcus Rafferty is sold.
Then it doesn’t matter that much that Degerfors is stable, kept the numbers down at the back, doesn’t fall through but lacks a threat going forward.
The MFF victory was important as a good start for team Helstrup. It did not give many forebodings about Bodö/Glimt football, but that Malmö FF will rather highlight more of their own younger players with more pace and high pressure potential than more expensive, older and more injury-prone new acquisitions.
The right way right now
After four coaches in a year since Henrik Rydström had to leave, Malmö FF needs a stable and less boring work order that will carry somewhere long-term.
Now all that is required is for the Sky Blues to have the soccer world’s most valued supporter commodity: patience.
Malmö FF is a new build where some new players with strong running skills are needed from the outside, new players from the inside and where everything has to land correctly in a new formula.
The club with the biggest self-image and the highest tail-wagging in Swedish football has hired an unassumingly soft-spoken Norwegian coach, and in my eyes it is absolutely the right way to go right now. Work, perform, then talk.
The victory also meant that MFF is only two points from third place. It’s rudely good, and a golden starting position for Helstrup&Molins, despite a Malmö FF that ran in the ditch under Miguel Angel Ramirez in the spring.
For the sake of transparency, I can also reveal that this analysis was written from a hotel room in Karlstad after a 2.5 hour train stop in Säffle following a bridge failure.
In case I didn’t discover anything from the TV pictures.
For one thing, I can state with the new successful “World Cup rules”: the playing time is more efficient, the TV replays need to come quicker, the crowd images should preferably be fewer (thanks in advance) and we writers have fewer game breaks to throw together a few lines of text.
It benefits football more than journalism. We can live with that.
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